This is our third visit to the Faire, and I don't mind saying, it just keeps getting better! We've got new friends coming, and we presented as Love & Rockets, our awesome Make Club. Maria, Eli, and Alex made great demonstrations, and everyone helped bring it all together... lovely teamwork. The only problem is deciding what to share, in what order... actually, I know I will share it all, so brace yourselves for the impending epic display of mind blowing Maker prodigiousness.

As for the question of what order to post the many topics of epic, mind blowing Maker prodigiousness... well, I am hoping you will help me in this decision. So, allow me to share some initial peeks and hints of the wondrousness of our journey in Maker Joy, and by a show of hands the first post about Maker Faire will be decided by the readers, You! Remember: vote early, vote often. And here are your choices:

Option 1: Conventional.

We can begin at the beginning. I'll try not to get too philosophical. Who can say when things really begin? But, yeah. At some point we got on the road and started driving north, and we call that "the beginning." A lot of prep went into pulling this off, and it wasn't exactly easy reaching the point where I felt "ready," but eventually we packed children, tools, and hopes, and left for Maker Faire!

Option 2: En Route.

What makes a girl leap for joy? What can you build with found treasures on your way to Maker Faire? What is kinetic art? We didn't wait to arrive at Maker Faire, to begin our Maker fun.

You're curious. You're looking at Max, appreciating his creation, and his broad, bright smile, and you're wondering: What are Skallops?! Skallops are just one more totally cool, fun, innovative, and inspiring Make experience that we could not stay away from! Vote today. And stay tuned for an awesome Chickenbloggiversary Skallop giveaway. (The crowd goes wild!)

Option 7: Roominate.

This one is about girls and science, technology, engineering, art, and math. There it is again: S.T.E.A.M.M.! So what have the women of Roominate come up with, to inspire girls to pursue education and careers in engineering? Let's see if we can Kickstart their plans!

Option 8: Neverending Maker Magic.

Vote for the random, the unique, the wild and wonderful neverending magic of Maker Faire, and I will post just a glimpse of the fantasies come true that ride, glide, slide, and guide their way throughout the Faire.

Okay. Vote! I gotta go clean out the RV now. Wha-whaa. I'll just console myself by pretending that it's really just fun preparation for next year's Maker Faire.

Followers

Time Travel

Liberty, 2013

Chirp-Chirp-Chirp BirdHouse Notes

Sorry. I am practicing freedom of expression:

Wholly shite! I just saw our share of the travel expense for robotics, and I am peeling myself off the floor from sticker shock. In 2 minutes I found 5 highly rated ABNB places where Maria and I could stay for 1/3 the rate. It's not that I am "cheap." It's that I am cheap and have no income, and hope to save for my golden years, or at least put one more kid through college. It's supposed to be inappropriate to talk about money, tacky, I know, but I think it's highly inappropriate to spend beyond my means, or pretend as if I can keep up with the Joneses.

*sigh*

It's not as though it's fatal, but I do feel nauseated.

March 20, 2019

1:29 pm

Instagram... lots of thought about that, and questions. I have the kind of questions about IG that I'd rather not ask aloud, because inevitably it would only demonstrate my insecurity. But here goes... why don't more users demonstrate a little more reciprocity, some like for like engagement, a bit of kindness, gratitude, or even genuine humility? Social media algorithms seem to go right for my jugular, or maybe only my ego.

Laugh out loud: a beautiful woman posted a selfie, with agonizing apologies for doing so, because in her words, "I never do this! I can't believe I am posting a selfie, but sometimes it's ok to be 'out there!'" I thought she was being so modest and humble, and it intrigued me, so I went to her page... and it was true: there were hardly any selfies on her wall, but there was not a single picture that didn't include her. Her entire IG was hundreds and hundreds, adding up to thousands, of pictures of her.

March 20, 2019

12:52 pm

Ten minutes ago I sat down with the intention of blogging. I frequently "intend" to blog. I fancy that I am taking a break, not broken-up. But, once again, I am derailed by something technical and my Google search is not yielding a solution. I sit here, increasingly aggravated, and my shoulder and neck begin to wince and whine, and I ask, "Why? Why pursue this? Is it out of habit? Certainly, by now, I must realize that this blog will not be my career, a literary accomplishment, noteworthy for..." never mind. My point becomes muddled, my thoughts self-deprecating. I miss keeping stories and details, adding to the memory book, and as I get older, I can truly appreciate the practical benefits of the reminders and place holders this blog has created... I will really want to kick myself if I don't continue writing down even small facts, that in years to come will make us smile, or help us keep records straight.

But. As I said... something in iPhoto won't talk to my phone and I can't import pictures. I am so behind. At least, that is how I feel, because I want to be caught up, I want to share all the happy things we have seen, or accomplished, our triumphs, and things we have conquered, tamed, or turned over. I don't feel like it's anything I am obliged to do, it's just what I wish, for my own sense of satisfaction... our pictures, and memories, jotted down and saved, for happiness sake. Sometimes, I feel a bit of relief thinking that as I have been away awhile, most people will have forgotten about Chikebbllog by now (however I spell it) and that I can slip back in and just go on and on about my favorite socks, and how the sweet peas are taking over, and not concern myself a bit that I never did write a book, or talk to Terry Gross.

Maybe I am relieved to not be blogging, because I hate the moment that, inevitably, arises when I feel compelled to share something of the accident, the one back in December. How can I help it? It clouds my head, still, and gives me nightmares, pain, anxiety, and a stutter. Not a very bad one, because I find that if I speak slowly, or not at all, it's not so noticeable. On Saturday, I cried half a day, because I was served another subpoena. It's "only" 2 different hearings/trials, but they keep changing the dates, and then comes a new subpoena. And do you know what troubles me? What will I wear? Because... "first impressions" and all that, and really, I cannot go dressed comfortably, as myself, in jeans and a t-shirt that says "Take a bus, you drunk fool." No. I will have to go and face her and her attorney, dressed as me, myself, and I am sorry to say that I will appear as a gray, fat, old woman, that flinches when doors slam, or cars honk. I would rather stay home.